Galway in Days Gone By

Galway In Days Gone By

Published

10 months ago

November 1, 2018

Our Reporter

The scene in the village on the final day of the An Tostal festival when the celebrations were brought to a close with a parade, cross-roads dancing and ceremonial lowering of the Tostal flag. An Tostal was a series of festivals throughout the country celebrating Irish life, inaugurated in 1953 and continuing for the next five years.

1918

Influenza epidemic

The influenza epidemic continues to prevail with unabated virulence in the county, and from various parts, reports of deaths are still being made. In the city, several families are stricken, but, fortunately, no fatal results have occurred since last week.

Of the institutions, St. Mary’s College is the worst sufferer, many of the students being confined to bed, while a number who escaped the disease returned to their homes.

During the week, all the schools in the city were closed, and the theatres have been put out of bounds for military and naval men. The Urban Council decided on Thursday to have the theatres closed for the present.

The Technical Institute has closed down till Monday. Dr. Sandys has resumed work after a week’s illness. Mr. George Duffy, draper, Dominick-st., contracted the disease this week, and his establishment was closed.

The influenza epidemic has been very virulent in Tuam, and there are ten houses in which some of the inmates have not come “down” with the disease. Last weekend, it took a sever grip on the town and the number of sufferers has increased rapidly.

Three shop assistants have fallen victim to the malady. Michael Mullens, whose death was reported last week, was from Ballindine. Thomas Ward, of Clonberne, was removed to his home, where he succumbed on Tuesday. The third victim is Matthew Donnellan, who developed double pneumonia following the disease, and died in Tuam hospital on Tuesday night.

They were extremely popular young men, favourites with their companions, and their early deaths are deeply deplored.

Members of the police force, the post office staff, and bank officials are amongst those laid up. The accommodation in the hospital is taxed to its utmost, and the patients are receiving the greatest care and attention from the doctor, nurses and sisters.

The disease has also spread to Ballyglunin and Turloughmore districts. In the latter place it has been particularly severe, and several deaths have taken place. A young man named Treacy has died near Ballyglunin as a result of it.

1943

Hospital scandal

The condition of affairs in the Galway Central Hospital from the point of view of the treatment of disease was referred to by Mr. M. Donnellan, Leader of Clann na Talmhan, in the Dáil. He said the conditions were a positive disgrace; they were so bad they might be endured only with reluctance and apology as a temporary arrangement if they had been imposed under some scheme of emergency arising out of conditions imposed by actual war or some violent eruption.

The medical and nursing staffs were excellent, but how they managed to do their work and carry on under the conditions imposed by the Minister and his representatives he did not know. The hospital conditions were grossly unjust to the staff and when they were unjust to the staff, they were unjust to the patients.

The whole problem was due to overcrowding, because of the absence of suitable alternative accommodation to relieve pressure on the hospital. It was a monstrous thing to have medical, surgical and tubercular patients mixed in the same hospital; it was unfair to all classes of patients and it was difficult to say who suffered the greatest injustice.

The people of Co. Galway could not understand why that condition of affairs should be allowed to exist. It was not a question of no additional accommodation being available. It would not be easy to find worse or less suitable accommodation for tubercular patients that the Central hospital offered, but the County Council always had been opposed by the Department in its desire to provide better treatment for tubercular patients.

In all decency, he said it was a matter of urgency that a suitable sanatorium should be provided for the treatment of tuberculosis and in the meantime, accommodation of a temporary kind suitable for patients should be found.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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Galway in Days Gone By

Galway In Days Gone By

Published

1 day ago

August 22, 2019

Stephen Corrigan

1919

Child deserted

A male child was found deserted outside the Galway workhouse gate on Tuesday morning by a contractor who was taking milk to the workhouse hospital.

The child, which was a few weeks’ old, was taken to the workhouse and baptised a Catholic. The police are investigating the matter.

Harvest prospects

The cold and somewhat harsh weather in late June followed by the practically general drought in July has unfavourably affected crops and stock.

Though cereals have on the whole done well, the drought has caused the straw, notably in the case of oats, to be short, and in some parts of the country the grain heads have not filled properly.

Flax, too, though in a fair crop, is likely to be short, and in some parts of the North it is anticipated that it will be difficult to find water for retting purposes.

Potatoes have wanted rain, but the cases of blight reported are less numerous, especially in the North, than last year. As a result of the drought, pastures are becoming bare, and stock accordingly in some parts of the country are falling off in condition.

Farmers organise

A meeting of farmers took place in Portumna on Friday to discuss a proposal to form a local branch of the Co. Galway Association of the Irish Farmers’ Union.

Mr. B. Geoghegan, the county organiser in addressing the meeting, explained the aims of the association and pointed out the great possibilities of co-operation among farmers.

All those present were completely in favour of the proposal and formed a branch on the spot, the members of which are very keen to induce every farmer in the district to join.

Another meeting will shortly be held for the purpose of selecting a chairman and secretary.

A month for begging

For begging on the footpath leading to the railway station, Patrick Reilly, of no fixed residence, was ordered to be imprisoned for a month when charged at Galway Petty Sessions on Monday.

Sergeant Duffy, who had summoned him, said he was obstructing people going to the railway station. He was an old offender.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.

Galway in Days Gone By

Galway In Days Gone By

Published

4 weeks ago

July 25, 2019

Boon Agency

1919

Scandalous profiteering

Loughrea Town Commissioners had an illuminating discussion at last meeting on the prices of coal and butter in county towns.

A letter was received from the Fuel Controller stating that it was the duty of the board as local authority to consult the local merchants, and get from them particulars of the sources of their supplies and the expenses which go to make up their prices in order to arrive at reasonable figures.

They should therefore ascertain from what port the district was supplied, and if from Dublin the prices should be fixed.

Shot on eve of wedding

A respectable farmer named Peter Fahy, Caherkilleen, Athenry, was fired at by some unknown party and wounded on the legs on returning to his home on Monday night.

Mr Fahy, who was to have been married on the following day, spent the evening at the residence of his fiancée, who resides near Loughrea. On inquiries it was ascertained that his injuries are not serious.

His marriage took place on Wednesday.

Bidding farewell

Miss May Dowie, who is attached to Lady Dudley’s nursing staff and has been stationed at Recess for some years, was the recipient of a dressing case and solid silver mirror from the people and also from the staff of the Midland Railway Hotel, on the occasion of her transfer to Roundstone.

Clifden Marathon

A correspondent writes: On Saturday (Peace Day) a four-mile race came off at the Marconi Station over a cinder path encircling the station.

The competitors were Lt. Ainsworth, officer in charge of the military at the Marconi Staion, and Mr. T. Keane, Engineering Department, Marconi Station, for a stake of £5 a side.

There was some brisk betting, commencing at 5 to 1 on Lt. Ainsworth in small money. At flag fall, the confidence of the military in their champion oozed out like Bob Acro’s valour.

Evens were the best terms that could be got by the followers of Mr. Keane. In the first two miles it looked like either man’s win. In the third mile Keane drew away from his man.

In the rest of the race Keane had everything his own way and won as he pleased by a furlong.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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Galway in Days Gone By

Galway In Days Gone By

Published

1 month ago

July 18, 2019

Stephen Corrigan

1919

Roads in good shape

The quarterly meeting of the Clifden District Council was held on Wednesday. Mr. E. J. King, J.P., Co.C., Chairman, in the chair.

The County Surveyor reported that all the roads in the district under the direct labour scheme were well maintained during the quarter, and the supply of winter material was making good progress.

Mr. P. H. Conroy referred to the flooding of the road near Kylemore iron bridge, and the Co. Surveyor stated that he was in communication with the owners with reference to the deepening of the river.

With reference to the unexpended balance on the Carna-Recess road, the Co. Surveyor stated that this money was now available for expenditure and that he had suggested a scheme to the Council at their previous meeting and he would be glad to have their views on the matter.

Chairman: I think it would be most unwise to spend this money on a road on which there is not much traffic. This money, I understand, I s earmarked for the Clifden district as we contributed half the cost for the Carna Road. There are several other urgent works. For instance, the Cleggan road, and the road to the Marconi Station, and you all know the cast amount of traffic that is on these roads.

In the Brit’s court

I am convinced that the Irish question cannot be further advanced by prolonged discussion. The subject has literally been “talked out”, and it is clear to all who care to see that irreparable mischief may be done by retaining the open sore on the very threshold of the centre of the British Empire.

That the time for prompt and courageous and clear-visioned action has come is agreed by all men of good-will who are eager to see this thorny problem removed from the path.

Therefore, the next move lies with British Statesmanship. Should the politicians have to confess defeat after the coming attempt at settlement, British democracy can have no further use for them, for they will have failed to fulfil that it expects and they will have struck a reeling blow at British prestige in the eyes of America and the world.

Stunned by lightening

On last Friday week there was severe lightening in parts of Moycullen. Portion of a field in Ballinahallin was torn up, and two boys were stunned for some time by a flash. Heavy rain fell.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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